The Reason Why the Forsaken Fake Returned Chapter 95

Living in hiding, Octavia took on the alias ‘Lowen’ and stayed at Shailoh’s townhouse as her guest. Fortunately, thanks to Duke Perus’s discreet efforts to cover up the scandalous news, commoners had no way of knowing what Octavia looked like. On top of that, using a false name meant no one recognized her.

 

Shailoh introduced Octavia as a close acquaintance and explained that she was staying for a time due to certain circumstances. She also earnestly warned the maids and servants who came and went not to reveal Octavia’s presence. Meanwhile, Octavia herself was confined to a semi-house arrest state at the townhouse. It was only natural, but she kept voicing her complaints.

 

“Sasha, is His Highness not coming today either? I’m sure there’s something he wants to say to me.”

 

“He’ll probably contact you when the time is right. Just wait.”

 

“You’re not intercepting her messages to me, are you?”

 

Frustrated by the questioning, Shailoh ignored her and focused on the embroidery she was holding. It had only been a week since Octavia had barged in, threatened with a gun, and squatted in her house. Caleb hadn’t contacted anyone at all, possibly because he was secretly investigating the correspondence between Queen Ingrid and Duke Perus. Either way, since Shailoh believed neither of them was a trap, she couldn’t just kick Octavia out like this.

 

“You really aren’t, right?” Octavia, reading Shailoh’s silence as confirmation, set down her teacup and pressed the question again.

 

Shailoh shook her head calmly, telling the visibly angry Doris not to be angry with her. “No, I wouldn’t do that.”

 

“But you don’t like me, do you?” Octavia’s eyes widened at the calm denial.

 

Shailoh quietly countered. “Why do you think I dislike you, Lady Octavia?”

 

“Because Sasha loves His Highness too!”

 

Octavia Perus was, to put it kindly, innocent. To put it less kindly, she seemed unable to grasp complex thoughts. Shailoh froze at her childlike honesty. What followed was shockingly cruel.

 

“That’s true, isn’t it? That’s why when we first met, you glared at me like that.”

 

Shailoh lowered her gaze gently. Yes. Back then, it was definitely like that. A mix of jealousy over someone born into a different world than her, and jealousy over how close she seemed to be to Caleb. Those two feelings combined into resentment.

 

Feeling the unspoken pressure to deny her own words, Doris couldn’t hold back and interrupted. “Lady Octavia, I think you’re being too harsh on my lady right now.”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. It’s obvious that Lady Shailoh doesn’t want to answer that question.”

 

Shailoh placed her hand over Doris’s as a signal to stop. But Doris shot a sharp look at her that clearly said ‘no way,’ then snapped back.

 

“Forcing an answer like that isn’t exactly considerate, is it?”

 

“T-That’s…” Having likely never been criticized before, Octavia stammered for a moment. Tears welling in her eyes. She looked ready to protest her unfair treatment, but after noticing Shailoh’s dark expression, she apologized instead. “… You’re right. I’m sorry.”

 

At her sincere apology, Shailoh let out a low sigh. Octavia was truly an annoying and thoughtless woman, but not inherently malicious by nature.

 

“It’s alright. Still, there is one thing I can answer.” Lifting her lowered gaze, Shailoh spoke firmly. “In the past, I did love His Highness. But not anymore.”

 

“Really? Can you prove it?” Octavia’s eyes went wide, and she jumped up excitedly at that moment.

 

“Sasha.”

 

Before the door even opened, a familiar voice was heard.

 

“Your Highness!” Octavia, spotting the man she had been waiting for, scampered over to Caleb like a puppy greeting its master. “I’ve been waiting for your message. You came to see me, right?”

 

“How have you been, Lady Perus?”

 

“To call me so formally now. Just call me Octavia. Please, make yourself comfortable.”

 

While Octavia chatted brightly with Caleb, Shailoh felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively averted her gaze. Did he hear what I just said? Or did he not? Confused by his unreadable expression, Shailoh watched as Caleb gently pulled Octavia aside and sat down opposite her. Octavia quickly followed him back and took the seat next to Shailoh, and he immediately got to the point.

 

“What Lady Octavia said was true. There was indeed a woman at that location, and after tailing her for several days, we confirmed that she was delivering letters between the queen and Duke Perus.”

 

“Then you’ll keep me by your side now, right?” Octavia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, restless like a puppy waiting for its treat.

 

Shailoh glanced between the two of them, then inwardly sighed with relief at Caleb’s usual calm expression.

 

“I will keep my promise.” Caleb, shifting his gaze between the two contrasting women, spoke slowly. “However, the situation isn’t favorable right now, so it will have to wait.”

 

“Yes!” Octavia beamed brightly, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. Even if not immediately, just having a verbal promise that she would be by his side was enough. Though she said she didn’t dare aim for the queen’s position, if she could secure a spot beside him first, she could quickly rise from maid to favored concubine. Being a loved concubine was better than being a wife in name only.

 

The one Octavia had been most wary of was Sasha, but the woman she had thought a formidable rival had just said she no longer loved Caleb. Things could not have gone better. If she rose to a high position, perhaps even her uncle, whom she had betrayed, might forgive her. Wouldn’t that be a good result for everyone?

 

“Lady Octavia.”

 

Just as Octavia excitedly spun hopeful scenarios in her mind, a quiet voice shattered her daydream.

 

“I need to speak with Sasha for a moment. Would you please give us some privacy?” It was a polite and gentle request.

 

Before the flustered Octavia could answer, Doris sprang up first and responded as if making sure she heard it. “Of course, Your Highness! We mustn’t interrupt the two of you! Then I’ll be taking my leave now.” Then she turned toward Octavia with a bright smile and offered, “Come then, Lady. I’ll escort you.”

 

Octavia was annoyed inside, but if she stubbornly refused to leave in this situation, she would surely earn his displeasure. Managing her expression with difficulty, she gave Caleb a respectful bow. “Then I shall take my leave first, Your Highness.”

 

Instead of replying, Caleb accepted her greeting with a faint smile. Octavia took hesitant steps as she left the parlor.

 

Shailoh followed the two departing figures with her eyes, barely suppressing the urge to flee after them. But regardless of her desire to run out of the room that very moment, the door finally closed.

 

“…”

 

Once alone with Caleb, Shailoh quietly shifted her gaze downward to her hands. With Octavia gone, the room felt as still and cold as if doused with ice water. Shailoh recalled just a few months ago, when the atmosphere had been warm and comforting, like resting on a cloud… She had been so happy that she had even wished time would stop.

 

Though the two faced each other and the place was the same, it now felt as if she were trapped in a prison without bars. Her chest tightened, and she wanted to run outside. Those turquoise eyes fixed on her like a guard’s constricting gaze.

 

Shailoh moved her lips that barely parted. “It’s a relief that Lady Octavia’s words proved true after all.”

 

“We only confirmed the existence of the exchanged letters. It’s too soon to say whether it was a great gain.”

 

“How about welcoming her as queen? You might be able to persuade Duke Perus and bring him to your side.”

 

“Do you hope for that?” Caleb smiled coldly and stared straight at Shailoh, as if reading her thoughts. “Then again, from your standpoint, Lady Yesiol and Lady Perus must seem about the same.”

 

The same? Shailoh swallowed a bitter smile in secret. They were not the same. They were completely different. That was why she had to hide her identity even more thoroughly. As she steeled herself, an unexpected question caught her off guard.

 

“Do you happen to know about Lady Yesiol?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Shailoh’s heart dropped. In an instant, her hands and feet turned cold, and cold sweat ran down her back. But she showed no sign of it. After all, acting was her specialty and her strength.